Collapsible shaft



Patented Jan. 16, 1940 PATENT; oFFi-'cs OLLAPSIBLE` SHAFT AdolphPotdevin, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to Potdevin Machine Company,Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 16, 1937,Serial No. 169,364

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible shafts and isparticularly directed toA shafts upon which webs' of paper and the likeare wound and which are collapsible to reduce the diameter thereof whenit is desired to remove the material therefrom.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a collapsibleshaft which approaches a solid shaft in that the minimum of material isremoved from the shaft periphery so that the maximum original strengthand stiffness of the shaft is retained.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shaft ofthe character indicated 1 wherein the shaft when expandedis circular incross section to provide a smooth outer surface.`

`Another object of the invention resides in the novel manner ofexpanding a collapsible shaft.

Other objects of the present invention will bemanifest from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawing, .in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved shaft; Fig. 2 is a cross sectionalview on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View taken on line 3 3 of Fig.2; and Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. '1, andshowing the means for collapsingl the shaft in elevation.

Referring to the drawing in detail: 2 designates the body portion of theshaft, or one section of the shaft, which is provided with a series oftransverse bores 4 in each of which is a coil spring 6 anchored atoneend tothe shaft section 2 by curved pins or loops 8 located in theconcaved opening or counter-sunk portion ofthe bores 4. The other end ofeach spring is secured to a stud IU anchored in an arcuate plate orshell I2 constituting another section of the shaft.

I Intermediate the longitudinal sections 2 and I2 I provide an expandingmember or wedge I4. This wedge, as will be seen from the drawing, istapered longitudinally of the shaft and extends from end to end thereof.'The wedge I4 is flush with the surface of the shaft and lies between ashoulder I6 formed on the shaft section 2 and extending the full lengthof the shaft and one edge of the curved expanding shaft section I2. Theother edge of the shaft section I2, as will be seen from Fig. 3, restson a corresponding shoulder I8 diametrically opposite the shoulder I6.

As will be seen from Fig. 3 the springs 6 tend to hold the curved shaftsection I2 in place on the shoulder I8 and on the wedge I4 at al1 times.

The wedge I4 at its outer end is provided with a hooked portion 20 forthe temporary attachment of a chain 22. The other endof this-chain `isattached to a lever 24 intermediate the ends thereof, the nose of thislever engaging the end of the shaft' section 2 or an extension thereof.This chain and lever constitute a handy tool for 5 retracting the wedgeI4.

The shaft section 2 is provided at one end with va collarv it held inplace by means of screws 38 or in any other suitable manner. The end ofthe Wedge passes under this collar. 10

When it is desired to wind a web of material the shaft is expanded bymovingthe wedge I4 forward to the position shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.With the wedge in this position the shaft is circular in cross-section.15

After the material is wound on the shaft the. same may be removed bysimply retracting the wedge with the chain and lever tool to permit theshaft to collapse ,under the action of the springs Ii. 20

It is to be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade in the structure herein illustrated and described without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is: v 25 1. In a collapsible shaft the combination of a`pair of longitudinal sections, one of which is fixed,

shoulders formed on said fixed section, the other -end movable sectionlying intermediate said shoulders, a Wedge between said movable section30 and fixed section, said wedge being slidable to move said movablesection outwardly to vary the outside ydiameter of the assembly, saidfixed section being provided with a plurality of bores,

springs in said bores having one endv anchored 35 v vthe exterior ofsaid section, a movable shaft section between said shoulders, springs insaid bores each having one end connected tosaid main shaft 45 sectionand the other end connected to said movable shaft section, a Wedgebetween said sections, said springs maintaining said shaft sections inengagement with; said wedge, and means for withdrawing said wedge topermit said springs to 50 contract in their respective bores to drawsaid movable-section toward the main rshaft section in collapsing theshaft.

3. A substantially solid collapsibleshaft comprising in combination asolid xed main shaft 55 section having a portion of its peripheryremoved to provide a pair of opposed shoulders, an arcuate sectionoverlying said fixed section between said shoulders, a slidable wedgeshaped member intermediate said arcuate section and one of saidshoulders, the movement of said wedgeshaped member longitudinally of theshaft in one direction expanding said shaft to circular cross section,means for withdrawing said wedge shaped member, means for collapsingsaid arcuate section on said main section upon the withdrawal of saidwedge member, and a ring surrounding the end of both shaft sections andthe small end of said wedge, whereby the surface of the shaft is smoothwith the wedge in retracted and extended position.

ADOLPH POI'DEVZIN.

